Deep Soil Ecotron

🌍 Happy Earth Day from the Deep Soil Ecotron! 🌱

Today, we celebrate the theme "our power, our planet" by raising awareness and taking action to protect the Earth. At the DSE, we dig deep - literally - conducting research on soil ecosystems that play a huge role in carbon capture and climate resilience. 🌿

Together, we can build a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

For more information about Earth Day 2025, visit earthday.org

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨

This week, we're highlighting our team at the University of Delaware (UD) in Newark, Delaware. UD is the state's land-grant university. Its College of Agricultural and Natural Resources consistently works to fulfill the three-part mission of all land-grant institutions: teaching, research, and extension.

At UD, co-PI Rodrigo Vargas, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. His lab is studying how soil-plant-atmosphere interactions change terrestrial ecosystems' responses to management, extreme events and global change. Vargas and DSE graduate student Rosmery Cruz-O'Byrne are working to supplement and advance the research being done at the DSE facility in Idaho.

Go Blue Hens!
University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Today marks the start of Vandal Giving Day. For 1889 minutes, the University of Idaho asks our community to partner with us financially to support the future of our students.

Your gift supports amazing research projects (like the DSE!) and goes towards creating better student experiences. When students become alumni, we want them to enter their professions feeling prepared and full of .

We at the DSE urge you to support students in the Department of Soil and Water Systems. Although we might be biased😉, these students have bright futures ahead of them and your support will only push them further.

If you are interested in making a difference, donations can be made at:

https://vandalsgive.uidaho.edu/giving-day/98415/department/98421

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨

This week we're highlighting our team at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder); in Boulder Colorado. CU Boulder is a research university at the base of the Rocky Mountains, offering a comprehensive array of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs.

At CU Boulder, Co-PI Noah Fierer, Ph.D., is doing important research into microbial communities. His research lab is studying how microbes interact with plants, soil structure, homes, and more. The DSE hopes to directly supplement this research by providing the ability to monitor how microbial communities in deeper soils respond to environmental disturbances.

Go Buffs!

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨

This week we're highlighting our team at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa); in Honolulu, Hawaii (while we're talking, please send us some sun over here in Idaho!). This is the land grant university in Hawaii, meaning that supporting agricultural research and education is central to the mission of the university.

At UH Mānoa, Co-PI Susan Crow, Ph.D., and graduate student Kristy Lam are busy studying soil concepts like carbon, organic matter, and water retention concerning the soils in Hawaiʻi and beyond. The DSE hopes to directly supplement this research by expanding our knowledge of soils. Understanding what is happening three meters below the soil just might change everything.

Go Bows!

Need the words to let that special someone know how you feel? We've got you covered. Share one of these valentines with your favorite soil scientist to show how much you care (flowers not included). 💕

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨

This week we're highlighting our cowboy companions at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie. This is just one of the universities we partner with to collaborate on research projects.

At UW, Dr. David Williams, one of our Co-PI's, is a director of the Stable Isotope Facility studying how plants interact with their physical and biological environment. The DSE hopes to directly impact this research and understand how deep soils impact plants and their growth.

Go Pokes!

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨

The DSE is based in Moscow at the University of Idaho, but we have partners at labs and universities across the country. Today we're spotlighting a partner located in Richland, Washington: the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a laboratory managed by the United States Department of Energy.

One of our Co-PI's, Zeli Tan, is planning to use the research data generated from the DSE to improve deep soil carbon modeling in Earth system models.

Our partners are essential to the success of the DSE. Without them, our team would be incomplete and our research would not have the far-reaching implications that it does.

WE'RE BACK! Coming back from winter break, the Deep Soil Ecotron is thrilled to see students our students back on campus- at the University of Idaho and across the country. This semester, you can expect regular updates from the Deep Soil Ecotron on the progress of our facility and research efforts. 🌱 Stay tuned for a continued dive into the world beneath our feet and why soil is more important than ever. Let’s get our hands dirty and continue our journey of discovery! 🌍✨

🎄Twas the week of finals, and all through the halls, not a student was sleeping, despite a few close calls.
🎄The textbooks were stacked by the desk with great care, in hopes that a passing grade soon would be there.

Congrats to all college students for making it through another finals week!
To those who graduated this semester, congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors.
To those returning, enjoy your break! We look forward to seeing you all in 2025, refreshed and ready for a new semester.